Lombard residents protest efforts to develop golf course

Plans to develop a Lombard-area golf course drew opposition this week from area residents who want the nearly 31 acres along Finley Road to remain as open space.

Lombard Plan Commission members heard from 18 speakers, all urging the village to reject efforts to develop the unincorporated Ken Loch Golf Links property. The commission is considering changes to Lombard's Comprehensive Plan for land use.

Commissioners took no action, except to continue the matter to their Nov. 19 meeting, when they will again take public comment on the matter.

Commissioners and village staff said Monday consideration of the matter would continue at least until the commission's January meeting before any recommendation would be made to the village board.

Issues of annexation and development of the 49-year-old golf course at 1S601 Finley Road came to the fore after developer Donven Homes of Countryside took an option on the property and approached the village board in April with a plan to develop the property with a mix of rental apartments and town homes.

“I realize people want to keep it open space, but then you're going against people like me who want to sell and retire,” said Ken Loch Links co-owner Linda Lies who did not attend the meeting.

Lies, 63, declined to talk about Donven, but confirmed the developer has an option on the property.

“There is a contract, but it all depends on zoning and what the village of Lombard will OK,” said Lies, whose father Richard Kensinger started the course and who owns it with her brother.

The village board then directed staff to analyze “all possible development scenarios,” according to Assistant Director of Community Development Christopher Stilling. Those scenarios ranged from keeping the land open, different types of residential use, retail and office. Of the scenarios, rental apartments are the most marketable, Stilling said.

Stilling emphasized village staff prefer keeping the land as open space and have asked the Lombard Park District to consider incorporating the property into a master plan they are now putting together.

Residents who spoke Monday evening were clear on their preferences.

Resident Gary Busching said attendance boundaries were recently changed for nearby Manor Hill Elementary School to relieve overcrowding, a condition that could return with new families moving into housing on the golf course.

Several other speakers mentioned flooding problems in the area, fearing those would be exacerbated by development of the property.

“I speak in favor of the open space concept,” said 30-year resident Dennis Witte adding that new development would bring more cars and people to an area already choked with traffic.

As for the open space issue, Lies cited the Lombard Park District's Four Seasons Park next to her property.

“There's plenty of open space,” she said. “Give me a break. I want out.”